Seattle Mariners Pre-Offseason WAR is 2nd Highest in MLB

Sep 23, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners left fielder

(13) during batting practice before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 10-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field WAR: 2.0:

This may be the most fair WAR projection on the list.Dustin Ackley was worth 2.1 WAR last season in his first full year as an outfielder. He had yet another slow start to the season, but his above average defensive and much improved second half provided the Mariners with value. If he can be more productive in the second half, LF could certainly exceed this projection.

Center Field WAR: 2.2:

This is way too generous. The combined WAR of the 3 guys playing centerfield for the M’s this season– Abraham Almonte (remember him?), James Jones, and Austin Jackson— totals -1.1 with Almonte the lone CF with a positive WAR (at 0.2). Of the 22 non-pitchers with playing time this season for the Mariners, James Jones and Austin Jackson ranked 22nd and 20th in WAR, respectively. Unless Jackson figures out what was wrong with him, centerfield could be another dead zone for the Mariners in 2015.

Right Field WAR: 2.6:

Again, another generous outfield WAR projection. Though Michael Saunders played in less than half the 162 games in 2014, he was 4th among position players with a 1.9 WAR on the season. If he is healthy and plays 150 games he gets to 2.6 WAR no problem. However he hasn’t done that since joining the Mariners at the Major League level. If the M’s don’t go out and get a rightfielder this offseason, don’t expect the right field spot to reach this projection.

And finally for the pitching staff…